Parents keep children home from school after sexual assault allegations

PARENTS at a southern suburbs school have kept their children home today in protest after allegations that two boys responsible for child rapes were continuing to attend the school.

The parents, who spoke to Community Newspaper Group, will remain anonymous to avoid identifying the school.

The allegations came to light yesterday after it was revealed a 12-year-old boy had been charged with one count of sexual penetration against a nine-year-old boy.

A 17-year-old boy who also attended the school is a registered sex offender after he was convicted last year of three counts of sexual penetration of a child under 13 and four counts of indecent dealings with a child under 13.

The charges related to multiple attacks on the accused 12-year-old.

One parent said she was outraged that the school was “trying to cover it up”.

“This is especially disgusting when they fired a teacher last year for getting pregnant out of wedlock,” she said.

“The student was at school until yesterday.”

She kept her child home from school today and claimed that she wasn’t the only one.

Another woman who is a volunteer at the school said there was a “mass exodus of students from the school today”.

“Many parents are keeping their kids at home today to make a statement and to keep them safe,” she said.

Parents are questioning why the 17-year-old was allowed to continue attending school activities after he was initially charged.

The Department of Education referred questions to the Catholic Education Office as their department was responsible for public schools only.

The Catholic Education Office has not responded to questions. The school declined to comment.